WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 3 thefts – Vespa after collision (update: found), school’s Pride flag, garden plants – plus, dumped-possibly-stolen debit card, keys found

| Crime | West Seattle news

Four reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

VESPA STOLEN AFTER COLLISION: On Friday night, we mentioned a South Delridge collision that left a Vespa rider injured. Today, the rider emailed to report that their Vespa was stolen after the collision:

On Friday, 5/26 around 9 pm I was riding my 1981 Vespa P200e home on SW Delridge. I lost control when the car in front of me made a sudden stop and when I stopped, my scooter fishtailed and I fell off. I hit my head and was unconscious. Should have been wearing my full face.

Fire and emergency were called. I was taken to the hospital and provided care at Harborview.

SPD rolled my collector vehicle Vespa to the sidewalk on SW Trenton and SW Delridge and left it there with no intent of telling me where it was or notifying an emergency contact, or impoundment. I was even informed by the reporting Officer that the Sergeant said to leave it.

It was stolen from the sidewalk while I was unconscious.

I want my scooter back. It means more to me than anything else in the world.

Monday update: The scooter owner found it – repainted and resold – spotting it being driven around.

PRIDE FLAG STOLEN FROM SCHOOL: From Whitney at the Community School of West Seattle (22nd/Roxbury):

Community School of West Seattle’s Pride Flag was removed/stolen (Saturday) night and the flag pole was damaged.

PLANTS STOLEN FROM GARDEN: A North Admiral resident reports:

I had quite a theft of plants in my yard & was wondering if anyone else had this. Some had been there for prob 60 years & others for around 15 years. Just about wiped out one part of south side garden of all herbs and flowers, took ferns on other side of house plus stones.

DUMPED/POSSIBLY STOLEN: Reported by Katherine:

I found a debit card and some keys with an AirTag in the bushes by my house. Looks like they may have been stolen and dumped. The keys have an AirTag with initials. The debit card first name is Z—— and a photo of the keys is below.

I’m happy to reconnect them with the owner/owners, if they can provide a last name or the initials on the air tag.

Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you.

flimflam May 29, 2023 (2:51 pm)

Jeez, the garden theft really sucks and is also very strange. Unscrupulous landscaper?

22blades May 29, 2023 (4:23 pm)

That’s some bad accident response to toss your vehicle to the curb unattended, locked or secured in a yard. This is on the “Sargent” that directed it left on the side of the road. You should get his name & badge number to file with the city. Now they have a vehicle theft on top of everything. 👎

Anne May 29, 2023 (4:50 pm)

Are you serious? Unbelievable.
- Peter May 29, 2023 (5:54 pm)
  
  I dunno, I’d probably have tried to leave it with a neighbor and then contact this very blog! A Vespa is quite a lot easier to pinch than a car. I reckon most people would happily pay the fee over not having a bike.
  - Dooh May 29, 2023 (7:29 pm)
    
    Don’t think he was in any shape to leave it with a neighbor. He was unconscious.
L May 29, 2023 (5:08 pm)

The SPD could have had it picked up by a tow truck and taken to an impound yard where the owner would incur a towing fee as well storage fees at the impound yard.

If that happened the owner could have been out hundreds of dollars (and also unhappy).

It is similar to other (four wheel) vehicles left disabled by accidents moved to the side of the road by responder
- CAM May 29, 2023 (8:14 pm)
  
  Those fees are why you have car insurance.
- Resident May 30, 2023 (8:16 am)
  
  Tow fees as a result of an accident or theft are a LOT lower than tow fees as a result of improper parking or being pulled over drunk. My truck was stolen and when SPD found it I told them to tow it. It cost about $200 including overnight storage. When I blocked a driveway and was towed it was closer to $800.

anonyme May 29, 2023 (4:28 pm)

Plant theft has been on the rise for a while now. All theft is despicable, but this is one of the worst. A lot of landscapers are unscrupulous in many ways, being also unlicensed and unpermitted, and willing to do anything for a buck. This includes cutting down trees on public property, butchering of street trees, and spraying pesticides without a license. There’s a new build on my street I’ve been keeping my eye on, as a lot of plants appeared there right after another major plant theft last year. A more specific plant list would be helpful if available. Also, is there a police report/case number?

Flo B May 29, 2023 (4:46 pm)

Were the plants taken out carefully? If so, it was either a landscaper(or builder) “selling” to an unwitting customer or…. someone in your neighborhood upgrading their lawn. If they were ripped out than was probably simple vandalism.

Chris May 29, 2023 (5:25 pm)

Some of the plants taken were big boston ferns, a large hyssop, lilies, rosemary, succulents, various plants which not sure of the names. We have pictures of what was there and what is there now, which is about nothing. They did not like the old, raggedy rosemary as they left that. They were not just ripped out. Someone knew what they were doing & care was taken, which was quite obvious. It has since been suggested that all the large herbal plants taken might be dried & sold on eBay or elsewhere. Other than that we just do not know. No one saw anything, however our neighborhood is now on high alert. We have very good neighbors. We won’t be replanting for items just to be stolen again. The hardest part for us was various plants were planted for us by a special deceased friend. We just move forward. We have filed a police report, however do not have a number at this time.

Flo B May 29, 2023 (6:36 pm)

Well, the word is out now. As you and your neighbors are out and about plus readers here be on the lookout for any new plantings. As you have pictures may be good to get them circulating so people can see and hopefully recognize.

Meeeee May 29, 2023 (6:11 pm)

RE: the Vespa theftSPD has a legal obligation to either tow or get a signed release from the vehicles owner or representative to leave the vehicle at the scene of the collision.If they didn’t do that then they are liable. I would certainly be contacting SPDs legal department and filing a claim. Not a complaint, a claim.

J May 29, 2023 (7:01 pm)

For some time now I’ve thought the SPD cops have been on a quiet “strike.” Cannot remember anything honorable, decent, or even noteworthy that they’ve done for some time… we citizens should start asking for accountability.

justme May 29, 2023 (8:43 pm)

Yes, dishonest landscapers are rumored to take plants from yards. I even caught a dishonest landscaping company throwing our neighbors dog’s waste on the roof of our garage…all on video! Report filed along with the license plate of their truck. But nothing has come of it yet….